Thermoelectric immersion cooler



Sept. 1, 1964 E, F. COX 3,146,600

THERMOELECTRIC IMMERSION COOLER Filed May 28, 1962 INVENTOR.

ggg www United States Patent() 3,146,600 THERMUELECTRIC IMMERSION COOLEREverett F. Cox, Benton Harbor, Mich., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation,a corporation of Delaware Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. 198,117 7 Claims.(Cl. 62-3) This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus, and inparticular, to portable refrigeration .apparatus for refrigerating abody such as a body of liquid.

At times it is desirable to refrigerate a small quantity of liquid suchas water or beverage without resorting to use of conventionalrefrigeration apparatus such as a refrigerator or the like. Thus, forexample, it is desirable at times to refrigerate quickly and etiicientlya quantity of beverage in a portable receptacle, such as a pitcher orcup. The present invention comprehends a novel refrigerating device-rn-anipulatable for ready selective immersion in the body of liquid,thereby to produce the desired refrigerating eifect in the liquidcarried in the receptacle.

A principal feature of the present invention is, therefore, theprovision of a new and improved refrigeration apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such `apparatusarranged for facilitated eflicient refrigeration of a body of liquid orthe like as by immersing the refrigeration apparatus within the body ofliquid.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such apparatusarranged for facilitated hand-held utilization.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of suchrefrigeration apparatus including a novel arrangement of thermoelectricmodules within an enclosure for cooling a liquid within which theenclosure is immersed, and means for conducting heat from the hotportions of the thermoelectric modules away from the refrigeratingapparatus for improved eflicient refrigeration of the liquid. Stillanother feature of the invention lis the provision of such arefrigeration apparatus having an improved handle structure throughwhich the conductors for energizing the thermoelectric modules extendand through which suitable conduit means for delivering heat transferfluid into and from thermal transfer -association with thethermoelectric modules extends.

Other features'and advantages lof the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a refrigeration apparatus embodying theinvention in association with a receptacle containing a body of liquidto be refrigerated by the apparatus;

`FIGURE 2 is an enlarged diametric section of the refrigerationapparatus;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged end view thereof, looking toward the handle endof the apparatus; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along theline 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed -in thedrawing, a refrigeration apparatus generally designated is shown tocomprise an elongated device having an immersible portion 11 4adapted tobe remov- -ably inserted into a body of liquid 12 c-arried by a suitablereceptacle 13. The refrigeration apparatus 10 further includes 4a handleportion 14 adapted to be grasped by the hand H of a person forfacilitated manipulation to effect the desired immersion of the portion11 in the liquid. The immersible portion 11 is arranged to house aplurality of conventional thermoelectric modules 15 which are energizedby a suitable wire cable 16 extending longitudinally through the handle14. The im- ICS mersible portion 11 further includes a heat transfermeans in the form of a hollow metal member 17 through which heattransfer iiuid m-ay be circulated by means of a pair of conduits 18 and19 also extending longitudinally through the handle 14. The electricalcable 16 is adapted to be connected to a suitable conventional D.C.power source (not shown) and the conduits 18 and 19 are adapted to beconnected by means of suitable flexible hoses 20 to a suitableconventional source of heat transfer uid such as a household watersupply (not shown) and to a dra-in.

More specifically, the immersible portion 11 of the refrigerationapparatus comprises lan outer enclosure 21 formed of a suitableconductive material such as steel and, as best seen in FIGURE 4, may bearranged to dene an octagonal transverse cross section. The distal endof the enclosure 21 is preferably closed by means of a plug 22 formed ofIa suitable sealing materi-al such as foam` insulation, and -a metal cap23 preferably welded in the end 24 of the enclosure. The opposite end 25of the enclosure is similarly fitted with a sealing plug 26 throughwhich the individual conductors 27 and 28 of cable 16 and tubes 18 and19 extend. The hollow metal member 17 extends between plugs 22 and 26axially through the .space 29 within the enclosure 21. It will beapparent that insulation plugs 22 and 26 may be provided by insulationfoamed-in-place after the modules 15 and hollow metal members 17 areinserted within the outer enclosure 21.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the hollow metal member deiines a pairof longitudinal passages 30 and 31 on opposite sides of a centraldividing wall 32 for circulating coolant fluid therethrough, thedividing wall 32 terminating short of the distal end W-all 33 of themember 17 to provide la connection between the passages 30 and 31 at thedistal end of the member. As shown in FIGURE 2, conduit 18 is connectedthrough a closure 34 at the opposite end of the member 17 to the passage30, and conduit 19 is connected through the closure 34 to the passage 31whereby the coolant iiuid such as water m-ay be passed from conduit 18through passage 30 around the distal end of the dividing wall 32 intopassage 31, and from passage 31 to conduit 19 to complete thecirculatory path through the device 10.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the thermoelectric modules 15 compriseelongated assemblies having rectangular cross-sections adapted to extendrespectively between planar portions 35 of the enclosure 21 andconfronting planar portions 36 of the metal member 17 in intimate heattransfer contact therewith. Thus, by suitably electrically energizingthe thermoelectric modules, the outer portion thereof, as seen in FIGURE4, may function as a heat absorbing device for receiving heat from theliquid 12 through the enclosure 21. The inner portion of the modules maycomprise heat passing means for passing heat energy from thethermoelectric modules through the metal member 17 to the coolant fluidcirculated through the passages 30 and 31. In the illustratedernbodiment four such modules are provided, the metal member 17 beinggenerally square in cross section and the modules having a widthsubstantially equal to the planar portions 35 of the octagonal-sectionenclosure 21. Obviously, other cross-sectional configurations of theenclosure and member 17 may be employed including cylindricalconfigurations and polygonal configurations lother than the octagonalIillustrated coniiguration. As shown in FIGURE 4, the thermoelectricmodules 15 may be suitably interconnected within the enclosure 21 bysuitable interconnecting wires 37 to complete the electrical circuitbetween conductors 27 and 28.

Handle 14 may comprise a tubular plastic member having an end 38 securedto the end 25 of enclosure 21 by means of a threaded connector 39 fixedto enclosure end 25. Handle end 38 may be suitably threaded to theconnector 39 and provided with an O-ring 40 for sealing the handle tothe connector. The opposite end 41 of the handle is closed by a suitablecap 42 through which the conduits 18 and 19 and cable 16 extend.

In operation, the refrigeration apparatus 1) is utilized as indicated inFIGURE 1 by immersion of the portion 11 within the body of fluid to berefrigerated, the user effecting the immersion by grasping the handleportion 14 as shown. The cable 16 is connected to a suitable powersource (not shown) for energizing the thermoelectric modules and theconduits 18 and 19 are connected to suitable hoses for circulatingcoolant such as water through the metal member 17. Heat is absorbed bythe thermoelectric modules from the water 12 and passed into the coolantwater circulated through the member 17 for removal from the apparatus10. Refrigeration of the liquid 12 may be facilitated by utilization ofthe portion 11 to effect a stirring of the liquid concurrently with thecooling thereof.

Thus, apparatus provides an economical, simple structure affordingfacilitated refrigeration of liquids and the like being particularlyadvantageously employed in connection with refrigerating smallquantities of liquids Isuch as cups of beverage and the like.

While I have shown and described lone embodiment of my invention, it isto be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are dened as follows:

1. Apparatus for withdrawing heat from a body to be cooled, comprising:an enclosure having la thermally conductive wall portion and a handleportion spaced from said wall portion; thermoelectric means in saidenclosure having heat absorbing means in thermal transfer associationwith said wall portion and heat passing means spaced from said wallportion; and heat transfer means having an inner portion in thermaltransfer association with said heat passing means to withdraw heatenergy from said thermoelectric means, said heat transfer meansiniluding an outer portion extending through said handle portion of saidenclosure to without said enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat transfer means includes aconduit for circulating a fluid therethrough to receive the heat energyfrom said heat passing means, and said conduit passing through saidhandle portion.

3. Apparatus for withdrawing heat from a body to be cooled, comprising:an enclosure having a thermally conductive wall portion and a handleportion spaced from said wall portion; thermoelectric means in saidenclosure having heat absorbing means in thermal transfer associationwith said wall portion and heat passing means spaced from said wallportion; heat transfer means having an inner portion in thermal transferassociation with said heat passing means to Withdraw heat energy fromsaid thermoelectric means, said heat transfer means including an youterportion extending through said handle portion of said enclosure towithout said enclosure; and electrical conductor means extending throughsaid handle into said enclosure for energizing said thermoelectricmeans.

4. Apparatus for withdrawing heat from a body to be cooled, comprising:an enclosure having a thermally conductive wall portion and defining achamber; a handle extending from said enclosure; thermoelectric means insaid enclosure having heat absorbing means in thermal transferassociation With said Wall portion and heat passing means spaced fromsaid Wall portion; heat transfer means including an inner portionextending axially through said chamber and in thermal transferassociation with said heat passing means to Withdraw heat energy fromsaid thermoelectric means, said inner portion of the heat transfer meanscomprising a hollow metal member dening a fluid fiow passage, said heattransfer means further including an outer portion comprising a ductmeans extending through said handle for conducting a heat transfer fluidto and from said metal member; and electrical conductor means extendingthrough said handle into said enclosure for energizing saidthermoelectric means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a body of sealinginsulat-ion disposed between said thermoelectric means and said handleportion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a plug formed of sealinginsulation material at the end of the enclosure remote from the handleportion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an annular connector carrying thethermally conductive wall portion of the enclosure and threadedlysecured to the handle portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,804,072 Turrettini May 5, 1931 2,672,032 Towse Mar. 16, 1954 2,957,315Wood Oct. 25, 1960 3,008,299 Sheckler Nov. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS832,422 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1960

1. APPARATUS FOR WITHDRAWING HEAT FROM A BODY TO BE COOLED, COMPRISING:AN ENCLOSURE HAVING A THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE WALL PORTION AND A HANDLEPORTION SPACED FROM SAID WALL PORTION; THERMOELECTRIC MEANS IN SAIDENCLOSURE HAVING HEAT ABSORBING MEANS IN THERMAL TRANSFER ASSOCIATIONWITH SAID WALL PORTION AND HEAT PASSING MEANS SPACED FROM SAID WALLPORTION; AND HEAT TRANSFER MEANS HAVING AN INNER PORTION IN THERMALTRANSFER ASSOCIATION WITH SAID HEAT PASSING MEANS TO WITHDRAW HEATENERGY FROM SAID THERMOELECTRIC MEANS, SAID HEAT TRANSFER MEANSINCLUDING AN OUTER PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HANDLE PORTION OF SAIDENCLOSURE TO WITHOUT SAID ENCLOSURE.